Day 56 to 62 - Tim and Kate visit

It was a very slow and wet trip from Sawmill to Hamo Marina - wind and current were against us and at times we were lucky to make over 1.5 knots SOG. Fortunately we were not in a hurry.
Tim and Kate arrived on time and the waterline got even lower after loading their kite boards, kites and snorkelling gear.
Fortunately the weather had cleared a bit so we headed off to One Tree Hill for a few cocktails and then back to the village for a pub meal. We had hoped to dine at the Yacht Club but were amazed to find that the restaurant only opens a few nights a week and the bars close early (well - it was a Sunday, but....).

Would love to know the story behind this.

Whitehaven - not a soul in sight!!

Next morning the weather did not look all that inviting but we headed off to Whitehaven via Solway Passage. We had 25kts (gusting to over 30) on the nose and seas to 3 metres. It was a very slow, miserable trip and Kate looked as though she was seriously doubting her decision to spend a week on the boat. I have to say that it was pretty awful and one of the worst that Cath and I have experienced so far on DF. I was also worried that Solway was going to be a washing machine but was amazed to find that it was relatively calm all the way through. Once we were at Whitehaven and in the lee of the island it was a miraculous change with big smiles all around. What was even more amazing was that we had the whole beach to ourselves (if you ignore the solo gent in the small boat anchored deep in one corner). Needless to say the solitude did not last for long - we were soon joined by two other yachts then the large tourist charter boat disgorged its masses. Well - it was nice whilst it lasted!

Tim was keen to do a kite run from the southern end of Whitehaven up to Hill Inlet so the rest of us followed in DF. We had flat seas and a stiff southerly breeze so were able to drift along without sails or motors and still do 3-4 knots. Tim had a magic run and then moved into Hill Inlet and looked like we was going to stay forever. We anchored the boat in Tongue Bay and then went ashore to help him bring his gear back. It was hard it get the smile off his face - especially as we did all the carrying!

Tim launching at the southern end of Whitehaven

Tim working his way along Whitehaven Beach

Next day dawned sunny and warm so Tim & Kate headed off to do some more kiting on Hill Inlet. Conditions were great and they had a ball whilst Cath and I went for a wander to check out the local wild life (natural - not imported. Most of the tourists at Hill Inlet seem to be overseas backpackers).

Tim & Kate kiteboarding at Hill Inlet

We then moved to Luncheon Bay so that Tim and Kate could do a bit of snorkelling and finished the day at Maureen's Cove where we had a pretty rolling night.

Not sure what this is - perhaps a shark egg?

Next day saw us heading for Blue Pearl Bay for some serious snorkelling. The viz was pretty good and the friendly Batfish were there to greet us. While it would have been a tad cool without wetsuits, it was a few hours very well spent with some great coral and tons of fish of every imaginable species.

Next stop was Langford island in the hope that they could do some more kiteboarding but the tide was out and the wind had died away to almost nothing. We went ashore for a bit of beach combing and then headed over to Stonehaven for the night. We even managed to get a mooring buoy which is always a bit of a mixed blessing. Nice to have the convenience but hard to stop them banging against the hull when you get adverse wind on tide.

Tim doing what he does best supported by Kate

The next morning saw us heading back to Langford where we were able to meet up with Wolfie and Petra off Raki. It was great to catch up and hear their stories of their trip up from Lake Mac. They really are sailing purists and I envy their willingness to chill out and wait for the ideal sailing conditions so that they rarely use the motor. Oh, did I mention the fish? Wolfie continues to catch fish every day and makes it all seem to easy and natural. Not sure what it is about DF but we repel fish like nothing I haver ever seen. Tim has been really keen to catch something (anything!) so we have had lines in the water every leg where it is legal to do so. So far we haven't even had a decent nibble let alone a catch.

Intrepid climbers at the summit

Local butterflies on flowering Grass Trees

Leaving Langford we headed across to Nara Inlet so that Tim and Kate could visit the Ngaro site. We finished the day at Refuge with one other boat whilst watching a steady stream of boats moving deeper into Nara. It must have a been a real parking lot down the end by nightfall! Still no fish so we had a roast leg of lamb for dinner. We love our Cobb Cooker!

Looking south from Whitsunday Peak

Despite Hamo having 30-35 kts overnight, the following day dawned sunny and warm with almost no clouds in the sky so it was an ideal opportunity to climb the Whitsunday Peak. The walk starts at Sawmill Beach and offers virtually 360 degree views of the Whitsunday Group. It is a relatively easy climb on an excellent track and the round trip took us just over two hours. It was the perfect day for the trip with clear skies and no haze. My panoramic photos even came out OK which is a pleasant change!

Looking north from Whitsunday Peak

After what had been an outstanding week it was time to deliver Tim and Kate back to Hamo so that they could fly home to Sydney, repack and leave the following day for a week on Lord Howe Island. Life is tough when you are young and free!  We dropped them off at the Hamo fuel jetty and headed off towards Airlie and the obligatory reprovisioning. It was a moderately rough trip across the Whitsunday Passage and we decided to check out Funnel Bay for the afternoon and evening. It is a quiet, sheltered spot that we had pretty much to ourselves save for the catamaran sitting on the dry and a family car camping ashore.